All right, I am back from break. I'm glad to be here! This break has been a little different. For I haven't exactly done nothing during the break. What I did was that I worked on revising the chapters one by one as I felt like it. I now have all of this filler arc complete. So I will be presenting that to you week by week while I start to work on the chunin exams. It will take me a while to get through that and I will probably have to take another break before we complete it, but we will get there. With that in mind let's get onto the chapter!

THE WILL OF FIRE

PART TWO

Chapter 36 - The Ninja Cats

Team 7 made their way towards Ninja Cat Village. This was their first mission without their teacher and their second C-Rank ever. Even though they tried not to show it they were nervous. It was a lot to ask them to do this alone. Even if this mission was a relatively easy one. They weren't used to this. They were still green. They weren't ready to handle this on their own. Yet, that's exactly what they had to do. Take care of things on their own. Prove that they were professionals. It didn't matter that they weren't experienced. They had to do this. This was their redemption. This was their comeback. They could do this! Lord Fourth believed in them. They just needed to believe him.

It took almost an hour to arrive at the village of the Ninja Cats. They found the village elder waiting for them. He greeted the group as if they were family then got to business. Apparently, this business was all awkward for the cat. See, it was his family's heirloom that was stolen. It was stolen from underneath his nose. It was quite embarrassing for the elder. He was not accustomed to being so incompetent. Nor was he used to asking for help. It left a bad taste in his mouth. However, he felt that he had little choice. Their newfound peace was still fragile. He could not afford to anger the rats. But he needed the heirloom back. So, it was suggested to use an outside party.

"That's where you come in. You can break into the stronghold of our greatest enemy and steal back my family's heirloom. If you take it then they will not suspect us. They will assume that someone else wanted it. Which will preserve the peace while righting this wrong. They will have no proof that we took it. They will be unable to do a thing. The rats won't know what hit them!"

Naruto didn't like this plan. It seemed fairly full of holes. The first suspects would be the cats. Even if someone else took it. After all, the heirloom belonged to them. It would make sense that they get blamed. And once they saw it being paraded around it would all be over. The rats would know the truth. The peace would end. He had no idea why this old cat would do this. Risk everything for some stupid collar. It seemed positively crazy! Nothing good could come from this mission. However, if the old cat couldn't see that then there was nothing that Naruto could do. It was not his place to tell the client how to go about their business. If he wanted the collar then he would get the collar. End of story. It just felt wrong that's all. Like he was shooting these poor creatures in the foot. He truly hated the whole thing.

If the cat noticed Naruto's discomfort then he didn't mention it. Instead, he continued his rant with increasing fervor.

"If I was a few years younger than I would blast down those doors and take it myself! That collar is precious. It was given to me by my grandfather. I planned to give it to my grandson. Now that is impossible! Unless, you manage to get it back that is. Oh, how I wish that I could go with you! Rip it from their vile little hands! Alas, I can't. My heart wouldn't take it. I would never get out there. OH! How I hate this body that I stuck with! Treasure your youth. It will not last."

They shifted uncomfortably. They didn't really know what to say. They didn't want to be rude. They didn't want to upset the cat. However, they had no idea how to stop him. None of this was relevant to the mission at hand. Nor did they want to listen to him rant. Sure, they felt bad about his heirloom being stolen but that didn't mean that they wanted to get personal. He was their client, not their grandfather. They didn't have to comfort him. Nor did they want to. Hell, they didn't even know him! He was just some cat who hired them to fetch a stolen item. Why were they getting this crap?

The old cat grunted. "I know that you provably think of me as some crazy old coot. Going on about collars and rats! Provably doesn't mean much to humans like you. Bet it sounds funny. But they aren't your mortal enemies. They didn't steal your honor. Force you to accept such a disgusting compromise. It's all quite humiliating you see. No cat has ever before made peace with a rat. If my father was alive to see the state of things then he would be ashamed!"

Naruto interrupted. "Um, excuse me, but isn't peace better than war?" They all looked at Naruto. "Dad is always trying to avoid war. He says that it's a very disgusting affair. That the innocent are the ones who suffer the most. He hates war and killing. He'd rather avoid it if he can. Shouldn't you be the same?"

"I see that the Fourth Hokage has gotten soft in his old age." He sighed. "Suppose it was going to happen eventually. He's hasn't been in the field for years. Doesn't know what it's like to be out there anymore. He's forgotten what it is to be a shinobi. Such a shame."

Naruto wanted to holler at the cat, but was stopped by Sasuke. This was not appropriate even if he was bad mouthing the leader of their village and insulting his father. They could not be so rude. It was unforgivable. This old cat may be cranky but he was a respectable leader of the ninja cats. They owed them this. They had to hold their tongues.

"Elder, please, forgive my brother. He's blunt and has no tact. Forgive him."

The old cat eyed Sasuke for a moment then turned his attention towards Naruto. He clearly did not like what he saw. Naruto was not worthy to be a friend of the Uchiha. That much was obvious from the way that he looked at him. "So you call this boy brother. Interesting . . . I wonder what your father would say about that. Would he approve? Somehow I doubt that Fugaku would call this boy his son." After a moment he sighed. "Not that it matters much. I am a servant of the Uchiha. Not it's master. You are free to associate with whomever you choose. I will say nothing more on this matter. I just hope that I am wrong. For if I'm not; heaven help you. He'll be the death of you."

Naruto balled up his fists. A large part of him wanted to scream at that cat. To hit him for what he said, but there was no point. He would only prove the cat right and embarrass his friend further. He did not want to do that. The last thing that he wanted to do was prove this cat right. He would hit his client. He would stand there and take this abuse. He would get back at him later, that's all. When this mission was over. Just wait you old goat . . . Naruto thought as the old cat continued his tirade. He seemed completely unimpressed with Team 7. He did not like either Naruto nor Sakura. Although he was the hardest on Naruto. He didn't like him one bit. This was going to be a difficult mission if the cat came along. Naruto might end up taking a swing at him. Something had to change now!

Sasuke tried to intervene. He pleaded with the cat. "Elder, please! Calm yourself. I promise that we will find your collar and return it to you. You have my word as an Uchiha."

The cat stopped his rant to look at Sasuke again. He considered his words then answered. "I have never been one to doubt the word of an Uchiha. If you say that you will return the collar, then you will. For even if your teammates are laking you are strong. You will complete this mission. I am certain of that. Thank you young one."

Sasuke half bowed. "Thank you, Elder."

The cat returned the gesture then went on a new rant. He went on about the Uchiha, Fugaku, and Sasuke. Although he never actually said Sasuke's name. It seemed that he might have confused Sasuke with his older brother Itachi. It wasn't really clear. Not that it mattered. It did not effect the mission. Even if it annoyed Sasuke immeasurably. They had to grin and bear it. Hopefully soon the old cat would stop and they could get to work. The sooner they got away from this old coot the better. Naruto was quickly loosing his ability to tolerate this discourse. The longer the cat went on the shorter his fuse got. He was infuriating! He wanted nothing to do with this old cat any longer.

"Um, old cat?"

The Old Cat looked at Naruto warily. "Yes, young Namikaze?"

"Can you please get to the point? We don't have all day!" Sakura slapped him hard for that. Pain exploded on his cheek as a large welt formed. He had no idea why Sakura did that. "Sakura?! What's that for?"

She glared at him. "Don't talk that way to your elders!"

"Why not?"

"Because you can't!"

Naruto and Sakura began to argue in the background. While Sasuke apologized profusely for them. "Forgive us, great Elder. My brother is a fool. He meant no disrespect; I assure you. He is just impatient, that's all."

"I am sure that he didn't. He takes very much after his mother. I had hoped that the boy took after his father. Alas, that is not the case. He truly is Kushina's son. Oh well, he is a friend of the Uchiha and that's enough for me. I will let it pass. I will give the respect afforded to a member of the Uchiha clan. I hope that he understands what a rare gift you have given him. Few are ever called friend, fewer still are called brother. Be thankful for this."

Naruto looked at Sasuke for a moment then bowed. "I am Great Elder."

Both Sakura and Sasuke stared at Naruto in disbelief. They did not expect him to behave so formally. They wondered what was going on inside his head.

The Elder on the other hand was not impressed. Then again he was not impressed by Naruto at all. So there was little surprise there. Still, he accepted Naruto's statement and moved on. He gestured towards a young cat in the crowd. The cat joined them and the old cat introduced him:

"This is Timithson. He will guide you to the Rat's Fortress. However, Once you get there you will be on your own. Our agreement with the rats prevents our assistance. We can ill afford a direct confrontation with them. Remember, you must do your best to avoid that as well. For no trinket, no matter how valuable is worth war. Now, begone!"

So that's it for this week. I will see you all next week. Alley out!